Roanoke County Science Fair showcases student innovation as winners advance to regional competition
Roanoke, Virginia – Last Saturday, Feb. 21, the halls of Hidden Valley High School filled with curiosity, nervous excitement, and quiet determination as more than 100 young minds gathered for the Roanoke County Science Fair. Students from middle and high schools across the county presented a total of 87 projects, each one reflecting hours of research, trial, error, and discovery. The event showcased a wide range of scientific questions and creative problem-solving approaches, while top winners earned the chance to advance to the regional science fair at Roanoke College in March.
From experiments on nutrition and environmental health to robotics and biomedical modeling, the projects demonstrated both curiosity and real-world relevance. Judges evaluated entries based on scientific method, creativity, clarity, and understanding, recognizing the most outstanding work in each category.
Middle School Innovators Explore Science in Action
Middle school students delivered thoughtful and imaginative projects across multiple disciplines. In Biochemistry, Jude Hypes of CSMS earned first place with “Carbs- Take Your Mark, Get Set, Fuel! A Model Stomach Experiment,” while Manha Nasser followed with “Fighting Free Radicals: How Antioxidants Protect Organisms Health.” Aadhya Routh placed third for studying how pH affects starch breakdown.
In Chemistry, Cora Singleton of NMS won first place for “The Negative Effects Ocean Acidification Has on Marine Organisms,” and a team from HVMS placed second examining fruit pH and vitamin C levels.
Environmental awareness was strong in Earth and Environmental Sciences, where Emma Rottkamp of GMS won first place for testing water filtration materials. Gabrielle Amo-Mensah tracked pH changes from fertilizer runoff, while Flynn Maguire studied soil types and winter rye growth.
Energy experiments ranged from Graham Hailey’s first-place study of LED bulb Kelvin ratings to Sadie Gold and Zoey Johnston’s potato versus lemon battery comparison. Harper Rowan, Hara Oh, and Savreen Kaur explored solar energy’s effect on travel distance.
Engineering and materials projects also stood out. Cooper Wolfe won first place for testing natural insulation, while Cormac Brady explored how guitar pick materials affect sound. Chance Nguyen took top honors in Physics with a study on magnetism and temperature.
Plant science projects focused on growth and light effects, with Matthew Gard, Hudson Brendel, and Jaxson Kuzmich winning first place for studying how different wavelengths affect Arthrospira platensis.
First- and second-place middle school winners will advance to the regional competition.
High School Projects Address Real-World Challenges
High school students presented complex research tackling health, environmental concerns, engineering solutions, and emerging technologies.
In Animal Sciences and Biomedical fields, Alishba Sofi of HVHS earned first place with “A Noninvasive Method for Skin Hydration Quantification Assisted by Data-Driven Modeling,” while students also studied zinc’s effects on Daphnia Magna and antacid effectiveness.
Behavioral and Social Sciences included Ayush Pinnamaraju’s first-place project, “Threat-Induced Affiliation Under Targeted Neural Pathway Inhibition in Mice,” alongside studies on memory and social anxiety.
Chemistry and Microbiology winners Katherine Karolyi and Brooklyn Hemphill studied antibiotic and essential oil effects on Bacillus cereus, while other projects examined ion dissociation and DNA damage.
Environmental research was prominent. Marygann Jenkins won first place for studying human impact on Upper Roanoke River tributaries. Elle Graffeo examined decomposition of starch bioplastics, and Eesha Sethumadhavan analyzed microplastic concentrations in regional waters.
Engineering innovation was especially notable. Anika Parashar earned first place for designing a low-cost microplastic filtration system. Miya Morton developed a neonatal EMS transport harness, and Ace Adkins tested rover wheel designs.
Energy and materials research included Jeanne-Eugenie Picard’s cable strain relief study and Aaron Start’s fuel cell efficiency experiment.
In Physics and Mathematics, Christopher Boyd analyzed financial income in relation to inflation predictions, demonstrating the fair’s interdisciplinary reach.
Plant science winner Prisha Tiwari conducted genomic research aimed at improving salinity resistance in rice, while robotics and software projects included Caleb Wang’s PPE surveillance system and Minh Nguyen’s autonomous search-and-rescue technology.
Unlike the middle school division, first-, second-, and third-place high school winners will advance to regionals.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
The Roanoke County Science Fair highlighted not only academic excellence but also persistence, creativity, and a desire to solve real-world problems. Projects addressed environmental protection, health improvements, sustainable energy, and technological innovation — themes that reflect global challenges.
As these students prepare for the regional science fair in March, they carry with them not only awards but also confidence built through inquiry and experimentation. For many, this experience represents a first step toward future careers in science, engineering, medicine, and technology.
The atmosphere inside Hidden Valley High School served as a reminder that discovery often begins with a simple question — and the courage to test it.
